4:54pm

Sports

Calipari Talks Up Team During Annual Media Day

Kentucky Coach John Calipari took questions for three quarters of an hour Thursday as part of the annual UK Basketball media day. Calipari was asked about a variety of topics ranging from coaching philosophy, leadership amongst the players, and always having a young team; some of whom may only play one season for the Big Blue.

"During the season we are concerned solely about our team. Yes we're trying to get our guys better. We're putting them in positions to help us win. During the season, it is about our team. The minute the season ends, it is about those individual players. We help them make decisions or give them information so they can make decisions on what they want to do."

Calipari says it would be selfish of him to encourage a player to stay and help win more games when he's already good enough to turn pro.

Asked whether this group of incoming freshmen players are ready for the total fishbowl phenomena that is UK Basketball, starting with Friday night's Big Blue Madness, Coach Cal said,

"I think they are all excited and anxious. We are going to go down and do a rehearsal for tomorrow, tonight. We're going to have a practice and then we'll do a rehearsal so they'll be comfortable with what they've got to do. Look, you come here, you've got to want this. This is what you want. That's why you come to Kentucky. If you don't want this kind of stuff, you don't come here."

Big Blue Madness, the first public practice of the season for the UK Men's and Women's teams, takes place Friday night at 7 at Rupp Arena.